During a recent visit to Busan, HFPA President Dr. Aida Takla-O’Reilly was interviewed by the Culture M Media Society. Here is an excerpt:

Q: Who runs the HFPA?

Dr. Aida: A president, vice-president, executive secretary, treasurer and board of directors are elected from among the members each year. The general membership meets monthly and has the final say on all decisions. The HFPA also has four full-time employees, who are not members.

Culture M: How is the HFPA funded?

Dr. Aida: The HFPA receives substantial licensing fees for the network broadcasting rights to the Golden Globe Awards and from associated activities such as Golden Globe Awards pre-shows.

Culture M: Apart from running the Association, how is this money used?

Dr. Aida: The HFPA has an annual grants program that distributes sums among various entertainment-related non-profits and to entertainment-related scholarships at major educational institutions. In 2010, the HFPA gave grants totaling a record $1,541,000, bringing their overall donations to more than $12 million. Each year HFPA members interview more than 400 actors, directors, writers and producers, as well as reporting from film sets and seeing more than 300 films. Members also attend film festivals in other countries in order to seek out interesting and innovative foreign language films and establish cultural bonds with directors, actors, jurors and fellow journalists around the world. Membership meetings are held monthly and the officers and directors are elected annually. A maximum of five journalists are admitted to the organization each year. All members are accredited by the Motion Picture Association of America. As the international box office has dramatically expanded in recent years, so the Globes’ prestige has increased. The awards now have the distinction of being one of the three most-watched award shows on television.